EU Envoy Calls for Urgent Action on Visa-Free Travel for Türkiye
Ankara, Türkiye — The European Union’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Thomas Ossowski, has called the ongoing lack of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens "unacceptable," urging both Brussels and Ankara to accelerate talks to resolve the impasse.
Speaking candidly on the issue, Ambassador Ossowski emphasized the urgency of restarting the technical negotiations aimed at meeting the six remaining benchmarks required for Türkiye to join the EU’s Schengen visa-free regime.
“We all know that the current situation isn’t sustainable. The consulates are overflown with Turkish visa demands. People have to wait for months, even for a year, sometimes to get a visa appointment,” said Ossowski. “This is not acceptable in the strategic relations we want to have with Türkiye. It’s a shame for all of us.”
Talks Stalled Since 2016
Visa liberalization negotiations between Türkiye and the EU began in 2016, with Türkiye expected to meet 72 benchmarks. While 66 have been fulfilled, the process stalled before the remaining six could be resolved. Ossowski now proposes a renewed, "honest offer" to relaunch the discussions.
“We have to start the visa liberalization process again,” he stated. “Please let’s start the talks again.”
Türkiye Lags Behind Kosovo
In a pointed comparison, the ambassador highlighted that Kosovo—whose independence is not recognized by five EU countries—has already secured visa-free travel to the EU as of January 1, 2024.
“Even Kosovo, which is not recognised by several countries, has it,” he remarked. “Kosovo is a fragile young state, but Türkiye is a strong state with a strong bureaucracy. How can it be that Kosovo people can travel visa-free to the EU and Turks cannot?”
At present, Türkiye remains the only EU candidate country whose citizens are not permitted visa-free access to the Schengen Zone. The delay has long been a source of diplomatic frustration, compounded by increasing backlogs at EU consulates in Türkiye.
Erdogan Also Urges Change
The push for visa liberalization has also gained attention at the highest political level. Just last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the European Union to revise its Schengen visa practices, citing unjust obstacles and long delays faced by Turkish applicants.
The EU’s offer to reinitiate technical talks could mark a turning point, but only if both sides act with urgency to address the remaining criteria.
Source: Schengen.News
